Emergency Board-Up and Tarping After Storm Damage
When a storm breaches a building's envelope — through a shattered window, collapsed wall section, or torn roof — the structure becomes immediately vulnerable to escalating damage from weather, intruders, and liability exposure. Emergency board-up and tarping are the first-response protective measures applied to seal those breaches until permanent repairs can be completed. This page covers the definitions, operational mechanics, triggering scenarios, and decision frameworks that govern these two distinct but complementary services within the broader storm damage restoration services overview.
Definition and scope
Emergency board-up refers to the installation of rigid panels — typically 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch OSB (oriented strand board) or plywood — over openings created by storm damage, including windows, doors, wall breaches, and garage openings. Emergency tarping is the installation of heavy-duty polyethylene sheeting (commonly 6-mil to 20-mil thickness) over exposed or compromised roof surfaces to prevent water intrusion until roof damage restoration after storm can proceed.
Both services fall under the category of "loss mitigation" in insurance and property damage frameworks. The Insurance Services Office (ISO) and most standard homeowner policy language explicitly require policyholders to take reasonable steps to protect property from further damage after a covered loss. Failure to mitigate can result in partial or full denial of supplemental claims for interior damage that occurs after the initial storm event.
The scope of these services extends across residential and commercial properties and applies to a range of structural openings and roof conditions. Contractors performing board-up and tarping work operate under OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA Construction Industry Standards) for fall protection and temporary structure requirements, particularly when working at elevation on damaged roofs.
How it works
Board-up and tarping follow a defined operational sequence that minimizes further structural exposure while maintaining safe working conditions.
- Initial assessment — A technician evaluates the breach type, size, and accessibility. Structural stability is confirmed before workers approach damaged walls or roof areas. This phase aligns with the broader process described in storm damage assessment and inspection.
- Material selection — Board-up panels are cut to fit each opening. OSB panels rated for structural sheathing (APA-rated, Exposure 1 or Exterior) are standard. Tarps for roofing are selected by thickness: 6-mil polyethylene for short-term use (under 30 days), 10-mil to 20-mil reinforced polyethylene for extended exposure periods.
- Attachment methods — Window and door board-ups are typically secured with 2×4 wood frame backing screwed through the exterior frame. Roof tarps are weighted or fastened using cap nails, batten boards (1×4 strapping), or wrap-around techniques that secure sheeting at the ridge and eave without penetrating undamaged sections.
- Documentation — Photographs of every panel and tarp installation are taken before and after placement. This documentation directly supports storm damage documentation for insurance requirements and provides evidence that mitigation steps were completed in good faith.
- Temporary labeling — In commercial settings, NFPA 1 (Fire Code) and local fire marshal requirements may mandate temporary signage at boarded openings to indicate emergency egress status, particularly when the building remains partially occupied.
Common scenarios
Emergency board-up and tarping are deployed across a predictable set of storm damage patterns:
- Tornado or straight-line wind damage — Debris impact commonly shatters windows and punches through exterior walls. In tornado events, entire roof sections can be displaced, requiring large-area tarping across multiple squares (1 square = 100 sq ft) of exposed decking. See tornado damage restoration services for context on structural breach patterns.
- Hurricane and tropical storm damage — High-sustained winds strip roofing materials and compromise siding and exterior storm damage, creating combined tarping and board-up needs simultaneously. Storm surge can also deposit debris that breaks window and door openings.
- Hail impact with secondary wind — While hail alone rarely creates boardable breaches, combined events involving wind-driven hail can fracture skylights, polycarbonate panels, and aged single-pane windows. See hail damage restoration.
- Ice storm collapse — Ice loading causes localized roof collapse, particularly at valleys and flat sections, requiring immediate tarping over structural failures until shoring is completed. See ice storm and winter storm damage restoration.
- Lightning strike and fire breach — A lightning strike that ignites or structurally compromises a roof section creates a combined board-up (for any resulting wall or soffit breach) and tarping need documented under lightning strike damage restoration.
Decision boundaries
Not every breach requires the same response, and distinguishing between board-up and tarping — or recognizing when both are necessary — determines whether mitigation is adequate under insurance policy terms.
Board-up vs. tarping — key distinctions:
| Criterion | Board-up | Tarping |
|---|---|---|
| Primary application | Vertical openings (windows, doors, walls) | Horizontal/sloped surfaces (roofs) |
| Material | Rigid OSB or plywood panel | Flexible polyethylene sheeting |
| Structural function | Physical barrier against entry and weather | Water-shedding membrane |
| Typical duration | Until window/door replacement | Until roofing restoration begins |
| Fall risk classification | Low-to-moderate (ground level) | High (OSHA fall protection required above 6 ft) |
A breach that affects both a wall section and the roof line directly above it requires both services applied in sequence: tarping first to stop active water intrusion, board-up second to secure lateral openings. Attempting board-up on a wall opening beneath an untarped roof can trap moisture inside a sealed cavity, accelerating mold remediation after storm damage timelines.
Contractors should hold IICRC WRT (Water Restoration Technician) or ASD (Applied Structural Drying) credentials when board-up and tarping intersect with active water intrusion from storm damage. The storm restoration industry standards and certifications page covers credentialing frameworks in detail.
Large commercial properties governed by the International Building Code (IBC) Section 3306 (ICC International Building Code) have additional requirements for temporary protective structures that go beyond standard residential board-up practice.
References
- OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 — Construction Industry Standards
- OSHA Fall Protection Standards (29 CFR 1926.502)
- ICC International Building Code (IBC) Section 3306 — Protection of Pedestrians
- NFPA 1 — Fire Code, National Fire Protection Association
- Insurance Services Office (ISO) — Homeowners Policy Forms and Guidance
- APA — The Engineered Wood Association, Panel Standards
- IICRC — Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification